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My pappy always said, "When ya gotta dog down, step on his head."* This is what the Sabres need to do to the Red Wings who are coming off a 7-2 drubbing at the hands of the Pittsburgh Penguins Saturday. The Wings are in freefall. They are currently on the outside looking in as far as the playoffs go, with their 24-year playoff streak in jeopardy. They will come in playing desperate hockey, leveraging studs Justin Abdelkader, Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg, and hoping the infusion of new blood in Dylan Larkin and Andreas Athanasiou will be enough to get them into the postseason. The bad news is that both of their goalies got pasted on Saturday; Mrazek allowed 4 goals on 27 shots (.852) and Howard allowing 3 goals on 14 shots (.786). The dynasty appears all but dead, and it's up to the Sabres to show them what an up-and-coming dynasty looks like. The Sabres need to pressure their shaky defense and it will crack. Although they still have some fast players, by and large the Red Wings' legs are feeling their age and no amount of experience will help them if the Sabres push on them and push hard. The Wings good luck charm for the game is Gordie Howe himself; it's been reported that despite fragile health, he will be in attendance at the game. Look for Chad "The Big" Johnson to start for the Sabres. I would expect Mrazek in goal for the Wings, but after Satruday's meltdown, who knows? *My pappy never said that, but I wanted to start the thread like that.